Only NCR LGUs near completion can start vaccinating other residents — Abalos

Only local government units in the National Capital Region (NCR) that are close to inoculating all their eligible recipients can start vaccinating residents outside their areas, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Benhur Abalos said Tuesday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Abalos made the clarification after he announced on Monday that NCR mayors agreed to vaccinate each other’s residents.

“Linawin ko lang, yung sinabi ko kahapon yung mga natapos na kasi baka mamaya magkagulo yung ibang LGUs,” he said.

(Just a clarification, what I said yesterday is I am referring to LGUs that finished their vaccination because it might cause chaos to other LGUs)

According to him, LGUs with around 80% to almost 100% completion may start administering COVID-19 vaccine shots to residents of different LGUs.

At present, Abalos said that Pateros and Mandaluyong can now inoculate other residents.

San Juan City is also almost finished with their vaccination. However, Abalos said San Jaun City Mayor Francis Zamora told him that the LGU wanted to complete their inoculation first.

Aside from these, Abalos said Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro also expressed that they are already close to vaccinating all their residents.

He added that recipients will have to register first and QR codes will also be available for the registration.

On Monday, Abalos said the NCR has already fully vaccinated 4,262,546 residents so far as of Sunday. This is 43.5% of the eligible vaccine recipients in the region, according to him. — RSJ, GMA News